Danny Lang served the United States both in war and peace. He was honored on November 11, 2013, at the Omaha VFW Post 2503 for his contribution during the Korean War as a Marine Corporal.
Marine Corp. Photo Library link
According to the Marine website, small unit leaders are placed in positions of great responsibility in the Marine Corps, and many of these positions are filled by Lance Corporals and Corporals.
Danny saw fourteen months of active service in Korea. As a member of an amphibious unit, his assignment included delivering ammunition to troops on the mainland, as well as taking out the wounded and dead.
Marine Corp History and Heritage link
Semper Fidelis distinguishes the Marine Corps bond from any other. It goes beyond teamwork—it is a brotherhood that can always be counted on. Latin for "always faithful," Semper Fidelis became the Marine Corps motto in 1883. It guides Marines to remain faithful to the mission at hand, to each other, to the Corps and to country, no matter what.
The Marine motto, Semper Fidelis, which means "always faithful" in Latin, certainly exemplifies Danny Lang's contributions to the United States.
A member of VFW Post 2503 Honor Guard, Danny is a presence at funerals and functions honoring other veterans.
His service was not without its downside. Frostbitten hands and feet are a painful reminder of his dedication to the United States.
Additional information and research:
Wikipedia information on DUWK link
Members of Omaha VFW Post 2503 proudly refer to Danny as a Marine DUWC/DUWK (pronounced duck). He inherited this nickname because his Marine unit used a dirigible craft referred to as the DUWK/DUWK (colloquially known as Duck). It is a six-wheel-drive amphibious truck that was designed by a partnership under military auspices of Sparkman & Stephens and General Motors Corporation (GMC) for transporting goods and troops over land and water and for use approaching and crossing beaches in amphibious attacks.
The designation of DUWC is a military acronym for "Dirigible Unit Watercraft".
The designation of DUKW is not a military acronym. It comes from General Motor Corporation's model naming terminology:
"D" indicated a vehicle designed in 1942,
"U" meant "utility",
"W" indicated two powered rear axles,
"K" indicated driven front wheels.
These are photos of a DUWC/DUWK used during the Korean War:
| DUWC/DUWK | ||
|---|---|---|
A DUWC/DUWK, in use by American troops in France.
|
||
| Type | Amphibious transport | |
| Place of origin | United States | |
| Production history | ||
| Manufacturer | GMC | |
| Number built | 21,147 | |
| Specifications | ||
| Weight | 6.5 short tons (5.9 t) empty | |
| Length | 31 ft (9.4 m) | |
| Width | 8 ft 27/8 in (2.5 m) | |
| Height | 7 ft 1.375 in (2.17 m) without ring mount | |
Main
armament |
ring mount for machine gun fitted to 25% built | |
| Engine | GMC 6-cylinder 269 cid 94 hp |
|
| Power/weight | 14 hp/tonne | |
| Payload capacity | 2.5 short tons (2.3 t) or 12 troops | |
| Suspension | wheels, 6×6 | |
Operational
range |
400 mi (640 km) at 35 mph (56 km/h) on road, 50 nmi (93 km; 58 mi) on water |
|
| Speed | 50 mph (80 km/h) on road, 5.5 kn (10.2 km/h; 6.3 mph) on water | |
Other items of interest about the Korean War and the Marines:
Link with interesting information
United States Marine Corp Posters link
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